The Girl Scouts of the Round Table

re. This afternoon the ground was har

s that danced in the winter wind as if with n

ld touch on her forehead and cheeks. The warm blood in

y to call upon Memory Frean

nt. Now she felt a pleasant rush of

ke the little journey alone. At prese

to ask Dorothy McClain to accompany her, but finding Dorothy

was a member of their Council, and during the past summer in Beechwood Forest

urging from her. The tang and beauty of the afterno

riding horse, only recently To

a newly purchased two-seated s

e any faster than his own inclination ordered. Besides, she was in no particular hurry. So long as the sun shone wit

ll Tory laughed. The House in the Woods would appear li

ria Fenton, to remain for the night. Therefore, when darkness fell she a

satisfactory as usual, Memory Fr

fore on an autumn afternoon they

out Memory Frean, Victoria Dr

sthaven two friends she had come to consider indispens

he Gray House on the Hill, her own

been separated only two months. But then she was one of the per

word had come that the other girl was settled in a small hospital in New York City. How long she m

ed that she should be no less patient, yet uncert

unced that she might hope to hear by Chri

death, Victoria Drew, who preferred to be known as Tory, had lived with her artist father, wandering about Europe. Eighteen months before, he had married a second time. He had

had lived in the village orphan asylum. Her name, Katherine Moore, pinned to her dress, was all that was so far known of her history or parentage. She had gone with her P

Scouts in Beec

one friend to the other, T

sun on the snow shining less bright. No longer were the snowflakes danci

front door of the House in the Wood

ch the reflection of the fire on the window glass. Preferring first to make her horse comfortab

ching from the cold. She received the impression that although fighting valiantly a

ame more imperative than polite

opened

f wind blew her forward. She caught hold of t

e was warm, gl

but there w

wenty-four hours. Removing her wraps and replenishing the fire, the

gold from the fire. The window blinds were open, but the sunlight of an h

Her uncle had promised to take her for her first visit to New York. With her artist father she had been in Lo

erself or Katherine Moore. She was trouble

er where she ha

usty leather bag that ordinarily s

Eagle's Wing which had been her talisman in Westhaven. Later he

upon a pilgrimage to some one ill or in trouble i

,14 some of its simple gifts of heali

orm would be a heavy one and

ound a welcome guest, sat by the fire, sometimes

able to see pictur

of knights marching through the flames. The last

t Miss Frean would be at home a

er she was not to spend the

guide to the mistress of the house. Another she place

the Woods with Memory Frean, Tory was fa

was in a15 little house of mystery shut in by the white guards outside. Now a

door unlocked. She rarely ever fastened it. Since her

ove in the kitchen, the bread sliced for toast, and t

Tory ate her

door and half opened it with the impuls

rs for the return of Memory Frean she should have gone back to her home in Westhaven before dark. There was more than a possibility now that Miss Frean would remain for the

a sense of panic. Never had she been alone anywhere for a night in her entire lifetime. Here she was in the heart of the country with no neighbor within a mile. Often

ation was keener

ad given her a sense of satisfaction and the impression of being safely cl

atch the sound of approaching footsteps. If only Memory Frean woul

ight with her patient, who had been too ill t

e back to her own home in Westhaven as so

der this. Besides, the storm

amiliar room, but Tory's own serenity had vanished. The room

s it afforded her more entertainment than anything else in

for the return of Miss Frean, notw

arrived at a des

, she could face it. She w

self-pity ove

e and aunt were perhaps nodding over their evening conversation. They w

at and wrapped her f

hung inside t

opened the front door of t

as enveloped in a spiral

lpa tree Tory seemed to see a tall

n, nevertheless, she banged the door s

he fire with logs, once more she sat down, now to wat